Understanding the Difference between FTL and LTL Shipment

Most business owners need to ship their merchandise to other cities and even across the country. If you’re one of them, there are many ways to transport your goods and determine the cost. Shipping by truck is one of them.

Larger items will require a big truck, while smaller shipments may not fill an entire truck. As such, the service you need will depend on the nature and size of your shipments. Discover the difference between full truckload and less than truckload shipping.

Less than truckload shipping

In the shipping industry, LTL means “less than truckload” trucking. This means the shipment being transported will not occupy the entire space available on the truck. LTL shipping is the best option for small businesses with shipments that are not too large. To maximize the use of space available in the truck, carriers arrange smaller shipments from different companies inside the truck in an orderly manner.

West Coast Carriers and other LTL trucking companies will require you to pay only for the amount of space your merchandise takes up. For the final delivery, they might use smaller trucks to take your shipment to its destination.

Full truckload shipping

Full truckload or FTL shipping means your shipment will completely fill the truck. This is the best option for business owners who ship items in bulk. Hiring an entire truck can be more costly, but the convenience of taking all of your merchandise to its destination in one go is worth every dollar. The delivery will be quick, as the carrier doesn’t need to wait for the truck to fill. FTL shipments usually contain merchandise of a single company and have just one destination.

Depending on the size of your shipment, you can choose between these two delivery options. LTL will be extremely cost-effective for smaller businesses, although it might take some time for the shipment to reach the destination. FTL, on the other hand, is suitable for larger companies that regularly transport huge shipments.